Policing the Net: Crime, Regulation and Surveillance in Cyberspace (From Dot.cons: Crime, Deviance and Identity on the Internet, P 15-35, 2003, Yvonne Jewkes, ed. -- See NCJ-199525)

• NCJ Number: 199527
• Author(s): Yvonne Jewkes
• Date Published: 2003
• Length: 21 pages
• Sale Source: Willan Publishing
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter identifies the kinds of crimes commonly committed through the Internet and describes the forms of regulation currently used to counter such crimes.

Abstract

Pornography and the exploitation of minors is noted to be the most high-profile form of Internet deviance and crime. The dual problems of illegal pornography that involves minors along with children gaining access to sites with pornographic content were among the main incentives for the founding of the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit in Great Britain to coordinate the investigation and prosecution of cybercrimes. The Internet has also been used to fuel hate crimes, the violation of intellectual property rights, the invasion of privacy, defamation, identity theft, and "cyber-trespass." Although most experts agree that thorough regulation of the Internet is impossible, the Internet has also increased the possibilities for surveillance of users and communications by regulatory authorities. Technology continues to develop to increase opportunities for monitoring individual behavior on the Internet. Although law enforcement authorities admit they are powerless to do anything about most cybercrimes, they are still increasing their efforts to monitor the activities of growing numbers of people who use the Internet, usually without their knowledge or consent. 2 notes